Fairy fort / earthen ringfort in Áth An Charbaill

This rath and souterrain are located on a N facing slope overlooking the Lispole valley. Three ogham stones and a cross-slab were reused in the construction of the souterrain. The rath formerly consisted of a roughly circular enclosure (OS maps) defined by a single earthen bank and fosse (Brash 1879, 236). However, it survives now only as an uneven platform surrounded along the N side by a very disturbed earthen bank. Its diameter has previously been given as 15.24m (Brash) and 24.4m (Curran no.1). The souterrain (KE056-006001-) lies in the approximate centre of the enclosure. It is L-shaped in plan, the 1st passage running N-S for 4.65m, the 2nd extending 4m to E from the S end of the latter. The present entrance, a ramp leading down to the N end of passage 1, may be original but it is now confused by collapse. There is another opening to the surface at the E end of the N wall of passage 2, but it is not clear whether this results from the collapse of a side-stone or whether it represents an original entrance or vent. The walls of the souterrain are constructed of upright slabs with some of the interstices filled with drystone walling. The roofing slabs generally rest directly on the side-stones but corbels are inserted above the latter in places. The junction of the 2 passages is marked by 2 low (.2m high) jamb stones set .2m apart. The passages average c. 0.65 to .7m in height; passage 1 is c. 1.25m wide and passage 2 increases in width from .7m at the W end to 1.4m at the E end. One of the ogham stones acts as a side-stone in the N side of passage 2. The cross-slab and a 2nd ogham stone perform a similar function in the S wall, and the 3rd ogham stone acts as a roofing slab in passage 1. The ogham inscriptions on the side-stones are partly concealed by fill, and those portions on the outside angles of the stones are difficult to view. The readings of the inscriptions provided by Macalister (1945, 136-7) were therefore tentative, and a reassessment was not possible on this occasion. (1) (KE054-006002-) This ogham inscription occupies both angles on the E side of the stone. It was read by Macalister (1945, 136) as: LAIDANN MAQI MACORBO (2) (KE054-006004-) This inscription occupies the outside angle on the W side of the stone. It was read by Macalister as: LADDIGNI MAQQI MUCCOI AN.... The stone is broken after the N and the remainder of the final name is missing. (3) (KE054-006005-) The scores on this roofing slab are coarsely executed and difficult to read but Macalister suggests: LUGUVVECCA MAQI (... Macalister also noted a plain cross which is no longer evident. (4) (KE054-006003-) The exposed face of the cross-slab bears 2 plain crosses in circles, one above the other. The stems of both crosses continue beyond the circles and have bifurcated terminals. The above description is derived from J. Cuppage, ‘Corca Dhuibhne. Dingle Peninsula archaeological survey. Ballyferriter. Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne’ (1986), no. 285. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 6 August 2013